Autonomous Driving Apparatus and Control Method Therefor

Abstract

An apparatus of a vehicle may include: an input interface, a processor, and a memory storing at least one instruction. The at least one instruction may be configured, when executed by the processor communicating with the memory, to cause the apparatus to: change, based on the input interface receiving a user request within a threshold time duration and based on a manual mode change requirement being satisfied, an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle from a first mode to a second mode; change, based on the input interface receiving no user request within the threshold time duration, and based on the manual mode change requirement and an automatic mode change requirement being satisfied, the autonomous driving mode from the first mode to the second mode; and control the vehicle to perform an autonomous driving operation of the second mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 an input interface configured to receive, from a user, a user request to change an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle;   a processor; and   a memory storing at least one instruction that is configured, when executed by the processor communicating with the memory, to cause the apparatus to:
 change, based on the input interface receiving the user request within a threshold time duration and based on a manual mode change requirement being satisfied, the autonomous driving mode from a first mode to a second mode; 
 change, based on the input interface receiving no user request within the threshold time duration, based on the manual mode change requirement being satisfied during the threshold time duration, and based on an automatic mode change requirement being satisfied, the autonomous driving mode from the first mode to the second mode; and 
 control the vehicle to perform an autonomous driving operation of the second mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises an autonomous driving level 1, wherein the second mode comprises an autonomous driving level 2, and wherein the manual mode change requirement comprises at least one of:
 a road on which the vehicle is driving being a predetermined type of road,   activation of a longitudinal control mode of the vehicle and a lateral control mode of the vehicle, or   a maximum operating speed that is set for the longitudinal control mode being less than a posted speed limit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises an autonomous driving level 2, wherein the second mode comprises an autonomous driving level 3, and wherein the manual mode change requirement comprises at least one of:
 activation of a longitudinal control mode of the vehicle and a lateral control mode of the vehicle, or   a first sensor detecting a surrounding environment of the vehicle and a second sensor detecting a status of the vehicle are in a normal state, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor satisfy requirements associated with the autonomous driving level 3.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to change, based on detecting a predetermined vehicle operation performed by the user, the autonomous driving mode to a standby mode. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined vehicle operation comprises at least one of acceleration, braking, or steering. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to set, based on determining to change the autonomous driving mode, a mode switching time during which the changing of the autonomous driving mode is to be completed. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mode switching time is based on user image data generated by photographing the user. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises an autonomous driving level 2, wherein the second mode comprises an autonomous driving level 3, and wherein the automatic mode change requirement comprises:
 at least a section of a path to a final destination being suitable for the autonomous driving level 3,   a length of the section of the path being greater than or equal to a threshold distance,   the section of the path being an operation design domain (ODD), and   the vehicle not being in a minimum risk maneuver (MRM) situation.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to determine whether the section of the path is the ODD based on pre-stored map data. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to determine whether the section of the path is the ODD based on traffic condition data obtained by communicating with an external device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to determine whether the section of the path is the ODD based on environment data generated by detecting a surrounding environment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to determine whether the section of the path is the ODD based on at least one of: curvature data, weather data, or traffic data, for the path. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises an autonomous driving level 3 with a lane change function deactivated, wherein the second mode comprises an autonomous driving level 3 with the lane change function activated, and wherein the automatic mode change requirement comprises at least one of:
 at least a section of a path to a final destination being suitable for the second mode,   a length of the section of the path being greater than or equal to a threshold distance,   the section of the path being an operation design domain (ODD), and   the vehicle not being in a minimum risk maneuver (MRM) situation.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second mode comprises an autonomous driving level 3, and wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to further cause the apparatus to:
 display, via a display device of the vehicle, at least one of:
 a path to a final destination, or 
 a section of the path to be driven in the second mode. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method performed by an apparatus of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 changing, based on an input interface of the vehicle receiving no user request within a threshold time duration to change an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle, based on a manual mode change requirement being satisfied during the threshold time duration, and based on an automatic mode change requirement being satisfied, the autonomous driving mode from a first mode to a second mode; and   controlling the vehicle to perform an autonomous driving operation of the second mode.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 changing, based on detecting a predetermined vehicle operation performed by a user, the autonomous driving mode to a standby mode.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a user interface;   a processor; and   a memory storing at least one instruction that is configured, when executed by the processor communicating with the memory, to cause the apparatus to:
 control the vehicle to operate in a first autonomous driving mode; 
 based on determining that the user interface received, for at least a threshold time duration, no user request for a second autonomous driving mode, based on determining a cruise control speed of the vehicle being below a posted speed limit, and based on a road on which the vehicle is driving being suitable for the second autonomous driving mode, control the vehicle to operate in the second autonomous driving mode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to control the vehicle to operate in the second autonomous driving mode further based on at least one of:
 the road being a highway, or   a longitudinal control mode of the vehicle being activated.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first autonomous driving mode is an American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) autonomous driving level 1, and wherein the second autonomous driving mode is an SAE autonomous driving level 2. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one instruction is configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to control the vehicle to operate in the second autonomous driving mode by:
 controlling the vehicle to operate in the second autonomous driving mode in a section of a path to a destination of the vehicle; and   indicating, via the user interface, that the second autonomous driving mode is activated for the section.